Kids not doing Kid Program?

[Debbie123]

Hi. We are going on our first cruise in March 2004. It will be me, DH, and DS's 9, and 9. I was wondering if anyone had a child that didn't go to the programs and wanted to be with them all day? My one son is going through this kidnapping phase and when we go anywhere he has to be next to me most of the time and holding my hand (which I like!). Even though he has his brother I don't know if he would go anywhere where he couldn't see me. He has to see me at all times when there are a lot of strangers around. My other son is just shy and wont go if the other one doesn't. I wanted plan a dinner at Palo for one night and I don't know. Anyone have the same problem, or when we get there will the fun be so much he wont care?

Thanks,

Debbie

 

[Cindyluwho]

We've been on the Magic twice, once when our DD was 7 and again when she was 8. She didn't spend a great deal of the time in the kid's club, just a couple of hours a day. We actually met a wonderful couple with a daughter the same age and we ended up switching off when we went to Palo's. The night we went, our daughter ate dinner with them and visa-versa. Your kids will have a blast no matter what

 

[LAMPSKIES]

The first time DD's were 10 and 8 Feb 2000. We went got the bracelets and pager and never did we use them. Nov. 2002 we booked the cancelled Magic and switched to the 4 night Wonder and still didn't use any of the clubs. DD now 13 and DD 11 kind of hung out with each other when they weren't with us.

 

[CamColt]

My kids have only been on the Wonder once, at ages 8 months and 3.5. I didnt feel right putting the baby in day care, and the oldest had no interest in going to the club. We did sign him up, but he never went.
My nieces were on that trip with us too. They were then 11 and 7 and went to their respective clubs once. They werent very impressed.

 

[AnnMorin]

We have been on the wonder once and the magic twice with number three on the magic comming up. Our DS was eight on the wonder and the first magic cruise (only a few months apart), nine on the next magic and will be ten for December's trip. The first time we made him only spend an hour, it was only a three day trip and we just wanted him to get used to it. On the first seven day we made him spend about an hour a day.. told him he could look at the navigators to pick out when he would want to go. This past December I said ..if you are joining us I need time with Daddy alone, we ARE going to Palo one night and we ARE going to the comedy show in the evening, by then he was pretty used to the club and although he is VERY shy and would greatly prefer to spend time with us he was comfortable in the club, infact twice he wanted to stay longer. I think if you really want to do palo just tell the children that this is a fact, not a punishment. They are great in the club, if you let them know a child is shy they do go out of their way to accomodate them.

 

[jilljill]

I can't keep DD (8) out of the clubs. In fact one night we dropped her off a few minutes early and she ended up helping the counselors check the kids in and out for about an hour. She first went to the club when she was 5 and has loved it ever since.

 

[jlawall]

My kids have participated in the clubs and they loved it! One vacation years ago in St. Thomas had an excellent Kids Club. My kids didn't want to go and finally on the last day we made them go. They had a blast! We learned to not let them wait that long anymore. You know Disney! They always do it right!

 

[TMcG88]

We sailed on the 4 day Wonder in November with 9 kids ages 5 to 15. The 15 YO loved the teen program the rest of the kids refused to go (mostly because the were all split-up because of the age differences). Here's how we dealt with it.....

We would send them in a group to the movies before dinner while we had cocktails at the adult pool. They took 2-way radios and let us know when they got to the theater and when they were leaving. (I would feel comfortable dropping 2 nine yos off at the movies and being there to pick them up when it was over) The night we did Palo, they all ate together and then they all went to one room and watched the Disney channel and ordered room service until we got back. It really wasn't a problem and other than those times, we enjoyed having them with us!

We are sailing on the 7 day Magic in November 2004 and I don't think we will bother signing them up for the kids club at all!!

 

[jilljill]

It is a very good idea to sign your kids up for the club/lab even if they do not use them. The reason being is safety. I have seen too many lost kids and cast members trying to locate an adult that is with the child. When you sign up the 12 and under's they each get a wrist band and you get a pager. The wrist band has all the info for a CM to page you in case the child is lost. DH and I would say to each other if that child had their wrist band on the parent could easily be located. MTCW.

 

[mobetsy]

Debbie, when are you going in March? We'll be on the 3/20 Magic Eastern, and I know that in addition to my then 9 y.o. ds, there are several other 9 y.o.'s already posting here (well, their parents are!). I have some of the same worries about my younger ds, who will be not quite 6; my hope is to meet some people here and do a bit of e-mailing, sharing interests, pics, etc., so that by the time we get on the ship, he thinks he already knows them. I don't know if it will work, but it is worth a try. Your boys are old enough to do some supervised on-line chatting as well, which could help. Also, at the risk of it being a long year, we are watching the DCL video periodically and talking up points about the ship, so the boys will feel more comfortable with it in advance.

 

[TootyJane]

We've cruise twice. Both times I signed the kids (we've got 3 boys) up for the clubs. The first time they went only once, said they didn't like it and never went back. No biggie --there are other things to do. The second time (last May) our oldest was old enough to go to Common Ground. We hardly ever saw him!! He had a blast. Our other two -- well, the middle one never went and the youngest went only once. Youngest said he thought it was for babies. He was only 7. We figured we wouldn't push it since it was their vacation too. We're going in June 2004 so it will be interesting to see how it works out then.

I've read here on the boards that if you have a child that is shy it is a good idea to go to the clubs the first night and spend some time with them there. This is when friendships for the week develop and if they don't go it is harder to fit in later in the week. HTH

 

[Debbie123]

Mobetsy, we are also on the March 20 eastern. I thought we were on the western so I had to check. The boys don't know about the cruise because it is a surprise for my husband who will be 40 when the cruise leaves. Sometimes with them things slip out, especially when it is a secret!! Is this your first cruise?

Debbie

 

[cruisnfamily]

Our kids LOVED the kids program. On our last cruise(4 day) they were 6 & almost 10. We couldn't keep them out of the clubs and if they had their way we wouldn't have seen them for 4 days!

I recall the one day I kept going into the club to get my 6 yo and take him to the pool. His words "Mommy, I want to go in the pool but it's too much fun here...come back later". After 3 hours or so of checking back hourly I finally managed to drag him out to swim in the pool!

Our DD really enjoyed the freedom of checking herself in and out and but honestly, she almost never checked herself out preferring to stay in the lab constantly.

I recommend you have your kids try the clubs and see. You may be surprised.

 

[mobetsy]

Debbie, that's great you are on the 3/20! I just looked back through the 3/20/04 thread and saw you posted early on there; I thought those twin boys rung a bell in my mind

This will be our first cruise, and dh and I are so excited. I cannot imagine having to keep it a secret for a long time; good luck to you in doing so! When do you plan on letting him know? I'm sure my son would enjoy chatting with your boys; we are travelling with friends (Cara on these boards) and he already chats with her dd.

 

[Robert and Kelley]

On our first 3 cruises the kids were ghost's they spent so much time at club. They were 7-11 during those times. They are now 11 and 10. My son went to club about 2 hours the whole 7 day cruise. He wanted to stay in the cabin or go to the game room. Next cruise we are going to make him go early so maybe he will make some friends. My daughter ran into another little girl from our last cruise. They ran off and spent most of the cruise together.

My kids have always been shy but the Counselors at the club were great. I am done rambling now..but it seems our kids went more when they were younger and had a wonderful time.

 

[appink]

My son was 9 on our cruise last August.

He spent most of the day time hours with us but in the evenings he wanted to go to the clubs and would stay until they closed. This gave us some grown up time in the evenings and it was very nice.

He is a pretty outgoing child so he made friends very easily, especially with our table mates who had boys his age.

Patti